Researchers from the School of Nursing at California State University, Fullerton, examined the impact of an eight-week relaxation guided imagery intervention on the sleep quality of 20 mothers of hospitalized, preterm infants.They also looked at the association between sleep quality and maternal distress (perceived stress, depressive symptoms and state anxiety).

Mothers received a CD with three 20-minute relaxation/guided imagery recordings and were asked to listen to at least one of the tracks daily for eight weeks.

This analysis used self-report data gathered at baseline and eight weeks. Complete data on 19 mothers were available for analysis.

Psychotherapist, author and guided imagery pioneer Belleruth Naparstek is the creator of the popular Health Journeys guided imagery audio series. Her latest book on imagery and posttraumatic stress, Invisible Heroes: Survivors of Trauma and How They Heal (Bantam Dell), won the Spirituality & Health Top 50 Books Award